Petshop of Horrors

Step inside and feel welcome as you enter Count D's, where the pet of your dreams awaits. Just be sure to follow the contract carefully; otherwise, you'll face an unpleasant surprise. This succinctly describes Petshop of Horrors—a simple premise that might not seem like much at first but never fails to surprise you. Just when it starts getting repetitive, it pulls something unexpected, making it hard to even call this a horror manga after a while. The stories range from tragic romances to political crime thrillers, with morals delivered in a raw manner or offering genuine insights into other cultures—all wrapped in a nuanced exploration of human nature full of plot twists you'll never see coming.

The characters also grow on you impressively. Count D exudes an air of mystery; his origins remain unclear until the final arc. Leon shares great chemistry with him, and by the end, they truly feel like friends, even if neither would admit it—true tsundere vibes. Midway through, Leon's brother Chris is introduced. He's one of the best child characters, and the manga only gets better after his introduction.

The artwork is excellent too, highly detailed and setting the atmosphere perfectly. However, I noticed it tends to reuse the same art for establishing shots quite often—not just within the same chapter but throughout the entire series, especially in the latter half.

Overall, I recommend this series. Not every story is great, and I admit it can get a little boring sometimes, but I guarantee that each 50 pages will feel like 25 when you read it. Your experience at Count D's shop is one you'll never forget.

Welcome to a shop that turns your dreams into reality… well, almost. This store specializes in the rarest animals in the world that can make your fantasies come true. Occasionally, the narrative of this manga intertwines with that of xxxHOLiC. The concept remains consistent: an enigmatic shop owner who assists customers, an outsider introduced to learn about the shop, and episodic stories that reset every two or three chapters. Eventually, these lead into one overarching storyline at the conclusion—though revealing more would spoil the fun.

Throughout the series, there are segments that seem disconnected from both the main plot and the smaller character arcs. I see these as side stories. Despite their apparent irrelevance, they serve an essential role by providing comic relief in an otherwise dark and melancholic tale. These lighter moments, featuring playful animal antics or D's charming quirks, offer a welcome break before delving back into the complex psyche of the characters.

I appreciate D’s whimsical demeanor, even if he bears some resemblance to Yuko from xxxHOLiC. His love for sweets and his cryptic, elusive responses mirror Yuko’s style, leaving us pondering his true intentions. Leon is akin to Watanuki but without the incessant complaining. Although often absent during customer interactions, Leon acts as our gateway into the shop’s mysteries as a newcomer himself. His inquiries sometimes verge on annoyance, particularly when accusing D of selling perilous creatures, yet his curiosity drives him to understand the shop’s secrets.

One feature I greatly admired was the informational pages appended at the end of each volume. They elaborated on each mystical creature, catering to readers unfamiliar with the myths. This helped distinguish between fictional creations and those rooted in folklore, enhancing the reading experience.

The artwork is stunning, capturing intricate details, flowing garments, and unique designs that seem inseparable from the characters themselves. Wings resemble wings, fur looks like fur, and humanoid animals closely mimic their real-life counterparts without redundancy. However, the art occasionally falters during lighthearted scenes, where fine lines blur, making it difficult to discern elements in misty environments or when colors blend into the background. This issue stems from the artist’s meticulous line work, which, while impressive, can hinder clarity in certain contexts.

Petshop of Horrors captivates you from the moment you start reading, assuming you can handle the gore. Yes, it gets quite bloody at times, but that's part of its charm. This isn't your typical horror tale—if it were, I wouldn't be recommending it since I'm not a fan of horror. There are segments that provoke thought and require deeper reflection. Some parts might be challenging to grasp initially, but they're worth revisiting for a fuller understanding.

The characters are nearly perfect. Count D tries to remain emotionless and detached, but he occasionally lets his feelings slip through, making him an even more fascinating character. His interactions with Leon, who is his polar opposite, provide plenty of humor. And then there are the animals. Each one has a distinct personality, and you'll learn interesting facts about various species featured in the series.

In summary, this series is among the most extraordinary and delightful works I've ever encountered. It's the kind of story that stays with you, compelling you to keep reading until you reach the final page.

This is my absolute favorite manga so far. I adore it immensely.

You may have encountered manga with superior, more intricate, or uniquely styled artwork. Perhaps you've read ones with tighter, more solid storylines. However, I find these factors don't matter much. A story doesn't need to be flawless to captivate its audience completely. And "Pet Shop of Horrors" (PSOH) does just that—it's incredibly charming.

If you're like I was—either slightly intimidated by or indifferent towards manga art styles (which, upon closer inspection, are quite diverse)—I believe PSOH could serve as an excellent starting point. It's eclectic, featuring elements that appeal to various readers: horror/supernatural, mystery, crime/action, humor, morality tales, and even animals and attractive main characters.

I began with the PSOH anime available on YouTube, which only has four episodes (Daughter, Delicious, Despair, and Dual). Some say Count D's Japanese voice is better, but I genuinely enjoyed his English voice in the version I watched.

By the end of the first episode, I was thoroughly creeped out. It remains one of the spookiest episodes in the series for me, especially since I had no idea what to expect. Yet, I was also intrigued: how can animals also be people? What's Count D's agenda? He didn't seem evil, but the outcomes of his deals were horrific. So, I kept watching. By the fourth episode, I was madly in love with him. Naturally, I rushed to find the manga. It's not hard to locate; it might be sold where you live, and if not, Amazon isn't your only option—you can find it online almost anywhere manga is traded.

The original PSOH manga spans ten volumes, with three additional volumes of a sequel titled "Shin Pet Shop of Horrors," though only two are scanlated so far, featuring different main characters. The premise is this: In LA's Chinatown, there's a pet shop run by the enigmatic Count D. Quoting from the book: "Its proprietor, an enigmatic figure known only as Count D, beckons through his doors the injured and the scarred, introducing them to creatures friendly and bizarre. [...] Detective Leon Orcot [..] has traced a series of seemingly unrelated crimes to Count D and his Pet Shop of Horrors. A steadfast sceptic, Leon dismisses as trickery the inexplicable events he witnesses."

It starts off spooky, with somewhat annoying and repetitive morals, and Detective Leon Orcot seems little more than a hot-tempered fool. But it's still intriguing, prompting you to read on. Gradually, it becomes less creepy and more varied. Leon turns out to be not so bad after all. You begin to understand Count D's actions. Then, the overarching story takes precedence over the individual short stories. Leon and Count D develop a sort of friendship, mostly flirting and occasionally shouting at each other. Enter Chris, a six-year-old third main character. You learn more about Leon, his past, and life, and eventually, about Count D too (especially in Vol 10). You come to appreciate the art: D's expressions, comic relief scenes, outfits, and animals. When it ends, fanfiction becomes your only solace because the mere fact that it ended is devastating.

Along the way, the two main characters and antagonists reveal real potential. It's easy to develop a crush on Count D—he's enigmatic, mysterious, aloof, and increasingly appealing. But my true love goes to Leon. He's an ordinary guy to the nth degree, yet so good-hearted it's impossible not to fall for him. Leon hides strength and integrity beneath his rough exterior. Like Harry, he's often clueless but true and good. By the end of the first series, my heart belonged entirely to Leon, making it difficult for me to fully engage with "Shin Pet Shop." You'll understand why when you reach that point. Chris is simply wonderful, and the animals? Fantastic. T-chan, in particular, though you won't meet him until halfway through the series. So, it's pure love.

A big thank you to iibnf for the anime and to RexLuscus, whose enthusiasm made me try it and who has been a wonderful guide.

A very 'fun' but confused manga. The title and the early chapters set the premise up clearly: it's essentially a manga about a 'monkey's paw' scenario where the main character Count D offers another character their heart's desire in the form of a pet, while the protagonist Detective Orcot tries to figure out what's going on.

However, this isn't consistently maintained. It seems that the mangaka fell in love with the character of Count D and became reluctant to cast him as a villainous or punitive figure. Eventually, the stories are less about 'monkey's paw' scenarios and more about catalysts for revealing the traumatic lives of those purchasing pets, leading them either to find catharsis or resolution, or occasionally face punishment for their sins.

The change isn't necessarily bad, because Count D is likable, and the dynamic between him and the detective is fun and cute. There are plenty of BL undertones, as you might expect from the art style (though I find this falls on the pleasant side of shoujo art rather than the angular, big-handed unpleasant side).

The only 'problem' is viewing the manga as a complete story. The pressure to reveal who/what Count D really is means the last volume feels like a strange departure after several volumes of innocuous, often quite sweet and beautiful, dramatic supernatural stories. To provide a conclusion, the mangaka reintroduces the initial conceit of the manga, as if it had been consistent all along: D suddenly expresses his desire to punish humanity's sins in a way that just feels a little jarring based on previous events.

Additionally, the relationship between Orcot and Count D never seems to progress, despite constant hints from side characters suggesting a romance between them. While it might be too much to expect a male/male love story in an old series of this genre, it would have been nice if they'd become friendlier with each other (although their bickering remains enjoyable).

That being said, I was impressed with how successfully it was concluded—while there is a change in tone, it was well-paced, exciting, and fun, and I felt a little sad when it ended. The author knows exactly how a morality play should unfold. She isn't overly cruel nor overly lenient—really bad people get their comeuppance, while repentant victims are spared, so you're never left with a bad taste in your mouth.

It's a fun read that focuses more on enjoyable, episodic mysteries and tantalizing visuals than on setting up rules and being overly consistent. Well-drawn and easy to sink into, it's definitely worth a look.

I have just finished reading Petshop of Horrors, and I actually watched the OVA first. I wasn't expecting much since the anime didn't do it justice, but I was highly impressed. This has easily become one of my favorite manga. The plot is intelligent, filled with comedy that never cheapens the serious scenes or situations. It's a series that doesn't hold your hand; it lets you figure things out on your own, which I enjoyed as I tried to come up with ideas and theories about the characters. Count D is the perfect example of a well-written character in my opinion—he is mysterious and fascinating, neither good nor bad, simply Count D. I'm not very good at writing reviews and am trying hard not to drop any spoilers, but I must say this story is a diamond in the rough of horror manga. The horror elements aren't as straightforward as most modern gore-based horror; in fact, the gore is minimal and used only when necessary. If anything, I'd call it a beautifully written psychological horror worthy of the traditional Gothic writers of the 19th century.

Before we begin, I want to mention that I typically don't read manga because it rarely holds my interest. However, "Petshop of Horrors" was an exception—I simply couldn't put it down! I highly recommend this as a great introductory manga.

The characters are incredibly well-developed. Take Count D, the main character, for example; his backstory is deeply detailed. Their motives and actions feel very real, almost like they could be part of a real-life scenario—if not for the mysterious, horrific pet shop filled with exotic creatures.

The plot is fresh and engaging. Akino and Matsuri have truly outdone themselves here. Each volume and chapter introduces new concepts and fascinating additions to the world.

The artwork is solid and complements the story nicely.

Despite its title, "Petshop of Horrors" isn't just about horror. There are heart-wrenching scenes as well as moments that will make you laugh. It's a good manga because it doesn't focus solely on one emotion.

I appreciate this balance.

I won't stop recommending this manga to eager readers because it's definitely worth checking out.